Deposits and Investments
2 Timothy 2:2
The things which you have heard from me . . . entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Isn’t it interesting that Jesus Christ never said to make disciples by taking them to church, or to a Bible study? Not that these activities aren’t an integral part of a disciple’s growth, but the Lord has something much more personal in mind. My life was personally impacted in such a way by a college professor, Dr. Fred Afman. There were times I’d read something in Scripture that confused me or hear a preacher say something in chapel that troubled me, and I would go to this older gentleman’s office for advice. He would answer my questions, or even correct what I’d heard in chapel, from Scripture. I will forever be indebted to Dr. Afman, and others, who modeled our verse for today as they modeled life-on-life mentoring.
That word entrust was a first-century banking term that literally meant “to make a deposit.” Paul is saying in our text, “You have learned things from me, Timothy; now I want you to take that truth and personally deposit it into the lives of other disciples.” When you teach a child something about Christ, you are making a deposit into his heart. When you share Scripture or prayer with another believer, you are making a life-on-life deposit that Christ would define as true discipleship. Frankly, my writing at this very moment reflects what I’ve had modeled and taught to me by others. That’s what discipleship is . . . taking what Jesus Christ taught us and depositing it into the lives of other believers.
Is there someone in your life in need of a deposit? Begin a life-on-life influence, no matter how small or simple. Offer a personal touch, an investment of your time, and the principles of God’s truth. That kind of investment will reproduce fruit well beyond your lifetime. In light of eternity, make a deposit into someone’s life . . . today!